Cuba is frequently quoted as a role-model in disaster risk reduction due to its important and significant practical experience that can be shared with other countries. The present publication facilitates the understanding of a country with scarce resources and with a strong governmental commitment to improve and preserve the social conditions of its people. Accumulating a variety of successful stories in the disaster risk reduction field within the Cuban Civil Defense System.

Cuba is frequently quoted as a role-model in disaster risk reduction due to its important and significant practical experience that can be shared with other countries. The present publication facilitates the understanding of a country with scarce resources and with a strong governmental commitment to improve and preserve the social conditions of its people. Accumulating a variety of successful stories in the disaster risk reduction field within the Cuban Civil Defense System.

Cuba is located at the western Caribbean Sea, between latitudes north 210 º 51 '40and 230 ° 17' 09and longitude west 740 º 07 '52and 840 º 57' 54. The Cuban archipelago has an area of 110,860 sq km and includes the islands of Cuba, Juventud and 3,715 cays. Presents three mountain which represent 17% of the total area and the rest are broad plains generally suitable for farming.

It has been identified as tropical cyclones events represent greatest danger for Cuba, given the harmful elements that are associated (upwelling tide or storm, heavy rains and high winds). The history of Cuba has been prolific on record the passage through its territory of major hurricanes. In an average season formed ten named tropical cyclones, six of them can reach hurricane status, two of whom it classifies as intense. Other hazards identified significant for the country are flooding coastal upwelling or associated with tropical cyclones, cold fronts and wind from the south (sures), flooding (flood) associated with sudden heavy rains and drought.

The low-lying coastal areas, such as southern province of Havana, south of the area from Ciego de Avila to Cabo Cruz and the north coast from Camaguey to Varadero, are the most endangered by coastal flooding. The areas of greatest risk for sudden floods are located in settlements population mountain ranges and rivers downstream from dams or reservoirs. Areas East Central and Eastern, particularly the coastal strip south of the province of Guantanamo, are the most endangered by drought.

Institutional Level

Exposure to natural hazards for the population and economy, as well as levels of existing vulnerability, originate mainly in the way they historically occurred settlement of the inhabitants and the development of various economic activities in the country ( historical vulnerability), as well as the deterioration and aging of the housing fund, the absence (until the beginning of the sixties) of land management policies, building codes, regulations heritage, measures to protect the population, among others (Vulnerability accumulated). As a result of the political will of the Cuban government, bodies and agencies, economic entities and social institutions, professionals, technicians and the general public, have developed policies, strategies and measures for the prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction in disaster situations, which have contributed significantly in reducing the vulnerability of the population and the economy. Among the key measures include:

• The development of a legislative body, especially concerning the system of civil defense measures and those that require mandatory inclusion of measures for disaster reduction in the process of development planning and investment projects.
• Improving the quality of people's lives. The right to health, education, culture, decent work, social security and labor, among others.
• Implementation of structural type measures, such as building dams, dikes, aqueducts and sewers, for the benefit of the population and the economy.
• Developing and strengthening institutional capacities and human resources, with emphasis on land use planning and urban development, systems monitoring and surveillance to various dangers, as well as the direction, coordination and control of the civil defence measures, among others .

In Cuba have implemented mechanisms that contribute to ensuring the risk management and sustainable human settlements. One is the process of reconciliation, to which reference has been made, new investment in housing and settlements with the interests of the Civil Defense. Major advances in reducing risks include: the application of legal norms and instrumentation consisting of technical support and the realization of an integrated management and sustainable settlement that addresses the issue of natural hazards, which joins conducting research aimed at identifying and further threats, levels of vulnerability, risk elements in each territory with national and international financing, contributing to the shaping of this response strategies at all levels of the territory, with the active participation of the public and other stakeholders, particularly within the framework of [www.crid.or.cr/crid/CD_EIRD_Informa/esp/revista/No1_2001/pagina13.htm the System of Civil Defense Measures].

Climate change

Recent Progress towards the Implementation of the HFA

HFA P1 - Institutional and legal framework

HFA P2 - Risk identification and EWS

HFA P3 - Knowledge and education

HFA P4 - Risk applications

HFA P5 - Preparedness and response

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Cuba: Paradigm of Disaster Risk Reduction

Cuba is frequently quoted as a role-model in disaster risk reduction due to its important and significant practical experience that can be shared with other countries. The present publication facilitates the understanding of a country with scarce resources and with a strong governmental commitment to improve and preserve the social conditions of its people. Accumulating a variety of successful stories in the disaster risk reduction field within the Cuban Civil Defense System.